SIR JAMES FERGUSSON.

Waipawa Mail, Volume I, Issue 12, 23 October 1878, Page 3

SIR JAMES FERGUSSON.

Our late Governor gets a bard liit r ro n 1 he Presbyterian Church News. Sir lames Fergussnn, it is noted, bad aJu re- i litury if not ! i torn* connection with th • ; Üburcli of S-otlumt ; yet during the time be occupied the vice-regal chair in New Zealand, he never once identified himself . with hiscouutrytnen in the matter of public worship. This singularity of conduct was often remarked upon, but in charity ' it was believed that mere concern about being uppish could not actuate so great a man, and that as a matter of principle, most likely he had exchanged the Presbyterian for the Episcopal Communion. But if there was any principle guiding his ecclesiastical preferences, it must have been nearly akin to that of the Vicar of Bray; for at the last meeting of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, we find Sir James Fergusson in his place as one of the representative elders. We respect every man’s conscience (says our contemporary), however much we may differ with him in matters of religious opinion ; hut respect, we think, is hardly due to auy man who can make his worldly position the measure of his religion* profession ; who can turn his back upon the Church of his fathers the one day. and take his seat in the place of honor she foolishly assign* hirja the pest, ■